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Topic: May Showers Bring Time to Read Mystery/Thrillers

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clariail avatar
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Subject: May Showers Bring Time to Read Mystery/Thrillers
Date Posted: 5/1/2017 11:46 AM ET
Member Since: 1/28/2009
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What are you reading?

Didn't read anything this weekend, just lazy. I did start watching a show on Netflix that is based on books by Ann Cleeves which I've seen a few of you mention reading. Some of you may have seen it, called Shetland.  I've watched four episodes so far and have enjoyed it.  Sometimes I can't understand what they say and I think it's their accent. Course, could just be my hearing too as I know it's bad in one ear.

I also saw on Hallmark Mystery Movies that they are going to have a movie coming out based on Dana Cameron's Emma Fielding series with the title of the first being Site Unseen.  They are getting quite a few movies on based on cozy mysteries. Some I've watched, some I haven't.

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Date Posted: 5/1/2017 1:25 PM ET
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Cynthia --- At times when the accents are so heavy I turn on the subtitles on my television.  I am sure at my age my hearing is not as crisp as it was years ago, but the subtitles really help in some situations.

I just finished the Ann Granger book, "The Dead Woman of Deptford".  It was very good

Not I am reading "The Alchemist's Daughter" by Mary Lawrence.  Only a few pages in, but interesting thus far.

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Date Posted: 5/1/2017 11:07 PM ET
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Becky & Cheryl ~ I love the Charles Lenox series!  Just picked up the latest book in the series, "The Inheritance' from my library.

I have read "Jane and the Waterloo Map'' by Stephanie Barron.  These are still so good.  All written in the first person and all just as you would think the real Jane was writing them in style.  Great mystery as well.

Next up will be that Charles Lenox book.

Hope everyone had a Happy May Day!

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Date Posted: 5/2/2017 8:58 AM ET
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I have read several of the Shetland Island books but haven't yet seen the TV adaptation. Ann Cleeves also has an adaptation of her Vera Stanhope series, which I just finished the first book of a few days ago. "Vera" isn't on Netflix though, and at the moment I'm not willing to pay extra to Amazon for an Acorn TV subscription because the quality of the Amazon video is really poor for me, for some reason.

Finished up that #9 Charles Lenox book last night, another great one! I have had good luck getting most of the series here through PBS and I need to pass this one (and a few others) along...I always use the PBS postage, but my printer is on the fritz, so as soon as I get that up and running again, I'll be posting a few wishlisted books.

Started now on Beneath the Abbey Wall by A.D. Scott, which is the third Joanne Ross mystery set in 1950's Scotland. Have really enjoyed the first two. I couldn't find the book anywhere (not at the library and was on my WL here for quite awhile with no movement) so I ended up buying them from Book Closeouts awhile back. I think I have the next one too.

On the Kindle, I just started Black Diamond by Martin Walker, #3 in the "Bruno, Chief of Police" series set in St. Denis, France. At first I thought this series was trying to be a copycat of Louise Penny's "Three Pines" series, but as I get more into it, I see that it really isn't and has a life of its own. Not really a favorite yet, but quite good and a different cultural adventure. cool

Heading north tomorrow for five days with the munchkins, so I doubt there will be much reading, except maybe a few minutes at bedtime before exhaustion takes me away...the little buggers are so full of energy, they do wear me out!

Cheryl

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Alice J. (ASJ) - ,
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Date Posted: 5/4/2017 6:28 AM ET
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I am reading A Room Full of Bones (Ruth Galloway, Bk 4) :: Elly Griffiths   Very good series. Set in England. Characters are strong and well written and plot is tied together well. Start with book 1.

alice

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Date Posted: 5/4/2017 8:13 AM ET
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I'm reading and have read several light paranormal series lately.  A witch, a ghost or a werewolf in the mix.  Just having fun.  They've all been light mysteries and nothing special to share.

I am getting into the library a bit but they have more current best sellers than cozies.  I'll get there though.



Last Edited on: 5/25/17 2:46 PM ET - Total times edited: 1
beanie5 avatar
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Date Posted: 5/4/2017 9:01 AM ET
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Well I finished the Charles Lenox book, "A Beautiful Blue Death" and thoroughly enjoyed it.  Also finished "The Alchemist's Daughter" and quite enjoyed it as well.  Then just yesterday I finished "The Strings of Murder" by Oscar de Muriel and it was well done.  It is the first in a series featuring a somewhat disgraced London Scotland Yard Inspector who is sent to Edinburgh, Scotland to team with a somewhat disgraced Scots Detective to solve a murder thought to be a copy cat of the "Ripper".  Will definitely be reading the next offering in all three series.  The Lenox book is available but the other two are a bit above my usual price range for paper or Kindle!!!

Then last night I started "The Railway Detective" by Edward Marston.  An older series but in one of the Challenges I need a "transportation" book and this should fill the bill.  It has quite good reviews on Amazon.  Not far enough in just yet to give an opinion.

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Alice J. (ASJ) - ,
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Date Posted: 5/4/2017 9:53 AM ET
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Becky,

I have The Railway Detective on my shelf you will have to let us know how it is.

 

Alice

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Date Posted: 5/4/2017 10:46 AM ET
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Becky - I read Strings of Murder and really enjoyed it.  I picked up the next one, A Fever of the Blood, from the library the other day. I have read just a couple of pages in it last night.

Haven't been reading quite as much since I got hooked on a couple of series on Netflix. Hubby doesn't enjoy them as much so I watch when he isn't home which is when I usually read a lot too. Still working my way through Caramel Crush by Jenn McKinlay.

 

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Date Posted: 5/5/2017 3:58 PM ET
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My reading has slowed down a bit also.  Getting ready to read The Inheritance by Charles Finch.  I'm working on an afghan for my sister-in-law which has taken a lot of time.  I'm seeing the finishing line finally.  It has been fun to do.  Also, watching the Red Sox games slows me down as well as I only read during the commercials anyway.  :)

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Date Posted: 5/6/2017 8:25 PM ET
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It's been a super busy week for me and I topped it off today with a 150 mile round trip and my eyes are now very tired!  I met Elisa in Camarillo and we went to the FOL shop for a shopping spree and then had lunch.  With over 650 books now on Mount TBR, I certainly didn't need any books, but I came away with 22 books and a book bag and only spent $21.  That's what I call a good shopping day.  Now to get all these books listed on my inventory and shelved.  Think that will have to wait until tomorrow--I'm too tired.  Finished two cozies this week also, Christmas Caramel Murder by Joanne Fluke and Pop Goes the Murder by Kristi Abbott.  I really liked the popcorn book, the other one was hardcover, about the size of MMPB, and only had 205 pages.  Of those 205 pages, 48 were taken up with recipes, and the book retails for $20!!!!!

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Geri (geejay) -
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Date Posted: 5/11/2017 9:44 AM ET
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Una, you've topped me!  I never had that many though I was close.  I no longer have a book to read.  I have 149 on my Kindle.  And a library card!  Only 18 books on my bookshelf.  One on my wish list. 

Just finished Quiet the Dead / MorgJennie Marts and Blood on the Tracks an James; Southern Fried / Tonya Kappes; Shallow Graves / Patrick Logan; Easy Like Sunday Mourning / Jennie Marts and Blood on the Tracks / Barbara Nickless. 

Now, Catch a Falling Knife / Alan Cook.  The second in a series.  I liked the first and this one seems a bit draggy right now but not enough to just put it down.

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Date Posted: 5/13/2017 10:46 PM ET
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Hi Gang,

Haven't posted in quite a while because I haven't been reading. Decided to move to South Carolina to be closer to family, although I'll hate giving up the AZ dry heat for the humidity of the South. I'm looking to buy a house there, move and then put my house up for sale once it's empty. Don't know yet whether I'll sell "as is" or do a cosmetic overhaul with paint and new floring. Been packing, donating and trashing about 4 hours a day. That's about all the decision-making my poor old brain can take! Been in this house for 26 years, longest I've lived anywhere during my life.

My TBR is all packed (yeah, I did some of the easy stuff early), but my Bookshelf is still available for requests, and I'm offering 3 for 2, 5 for 3, and 7 for 4. Please PM me with freebie choices along with titles you're going to order for credits. I'll make sure the books are still available.

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Date Posted: 5/16/2017 8:04 AM ET
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I didn't read much when I was on vacation visiting the grandkids so my May list is definitely down. Let's see, I just gave up on Shadowed by Karen E. Olson, second Nicole Jones "Black Hat" mystery. I even gave it longer than my usual 50 page rule and just wasn't working. It made me sort of sad because I just love the author's other two series. Now reading Death of a Chancellor by David Dickinson (#4 Lord Francis Powerscourt historical) and Murder on St Nicholas Avenue by Victoria Thompson. My current audio book is a non-mystery.

Mary, that sounds both scary and exciting, moving house across the country! And a lot of work! I hope everything goes smoothly for you.

Cheryl

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Date Posted: 5/18/2017 6:27 PM ET
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anybody read the Harry Kemelmann Rabbi Small series. I think all the books have Rabbi in the title.

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Date Posted: 5/18/2017 7:52 PM ET
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Charles, I've read them all.  Very low key, but enjoyable.  They'd be dated since I read them in the 60s.  I'm I'd enough to suggest reading them in order since they do develop.  Rabbi Small is the new Rabbi in the first and the series ends with him retiring.  They were so popular there was a TV series and Art Carney played the police detective.

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Date Posted: 5/18/2017 8:49 PM ET
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Cheryl - A subscription acorn.tv is only $5/month. It's worth it if you enjoy mysteries and legal shows. Janet King and the following series called Crownies were very good. They feature stories about prosecuting attorneys in Australia. Lots of good comedies, too. Took my about a year before I pretty much ran out of programs on acorn that I wanted to watch. Subscribed to Netflix for a couple months, and then went back to acorn when they added some new series.

 

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Date Posted: 5/19/2017 7:58 PM ET
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Charles -- I read the Rabbi books in the late 80s and really, really loved them.  Dated or not, they were really good stories for me.

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Date Posted: 5/21/2017 7:17 AM ET
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Need to get to Mel Starr though so these will be my next mystery reads.  My last read for this challenge was 5/9 and I've finished the basic challenge.  All I have left are the optionals to complete.  Mysteries are therefor taking a back seat to other reads at the moment.



Last Edited on: 5/21/17 5:06 PM ET - Total times edited: 2
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Alice J. (ASJ) - ,
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Date Posted: 5/21/2017 7:23 AM ET
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REK, love Mel Starr's book although the latest one is more like a novella, only 150 pages

I have opened a new mystery swap

Steal's on your mystery/thriller/romantic suspense

It will be a bit different this time and run daisy chain style.

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Date Posted: 5/21/2017 7:48 AM ET
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Charles, I also read the Rabbi books and enjoyed them a lot. Read them in high school. Might be worth a revisit.

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Date Posted: 5/21/2017 10:06 AM ET
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I only have one of the Rabbi books . It is Monday the Rabbi took Off. I can't read it at the moment as I have a couple of non fiction books going right now. But I will get to it eventually.

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Date Posted: 5/22/2017 5:28 AM ET
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I read all the Rabbi books in high school and college. The ones I had were hard cover, and I just donated them to Goodwill as part of the purging before moving process. Living, dining and family rooms are all packed, as are most of the kitchen and laundry room/storage. Guest room and its closet is next. New house is in process of title search, and I hope to close soon so that I can take advantage of Home Depot's Memorial Day sale for appliances, etc. I won't be moving until July, but there's so much to do. 

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Date Posted: 5/22/2017 7:57 AM ET
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Mary, I admire you and Becky for making the move from one side of the country to the other.  I can't even imagine moving from my house to something smaller.  Many people have said I should have a smaller home here or move to independent living.

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Date Posted: 5/22/2017 9:22 AM ET
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Geri --- EVERYONE is telling me I surely do not need a house as large as the one I am building.  You just stay right where you are until there is no other choice.  One of the reasons I am building a 3-bedroom home is my mother and my aunt may be with me at any moment.  The other is, I moved out of a really huge home and rid myself of 50% of everything I owned and I am simply not willing to get rid of the rest.  Also, if it does not hamper me financially, why should I not have a comfortable home???  As to moving across country, I did it on purpose, but had my mother not been alive, I would still be happily living in Delaware!!!! 

Mary --- I really do know what you are enduring at the moment!!!  I think of you literally every day while you are packing, sorting, donating and trashing.  Do not know about you, but I was on my own with the entire project.  At the very end, my cousins did come up to drive me down here to Oklahoma, as I had fallen and broken my ankle 4 weeks before my move.  My main priority for you is to stay safe --- be careful in all you do!!!!

As to reading, I just finished "Blind Justice" by Bruce Alexander.  The main character is a blind judge attached to the Bow Street Runners in London.  The books were written some time back, thus they have a vocabulary for folks who read above a third grade level.  That may sound catty, but I do get tired of the simplistic style of writing needed today. (You can tell I am old!!!)  I really enjoyed the book and have now ordered, or wished for, the entire series.  Have just started a Thomas and Charlotte Pitt offering by Anne Perry, "Treachery at Lancaster Gate".

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